. The Open court. r of the Gnostic schools, the sign of intellectual omnipotenceand autocracy. ... If it be asked how a sign can exercise that im-mense power over spirits which is claimed for the pentagram, we inquire in turn why theChristian world bows be-fore the sign of the sign by itself isnothing, it derives itsstrength from the doc-trine it symbolises, andof which it is the a sign which epito-mises by signification allthe occult forces of nature,and which has alwaysmanifested to elementaryand other spirits a powersuperior to their own, nat-urally strikes them withfear
. The Open court. r of the Gnostic schools, the sign of intellectual omnipotenceand autocracy. ... If it be asked how a sign can exercise that im-mense power over spirits which is claimed for the pentagram, we inquire in turn why theChristian world bows be-fore the sign of the sign by itself isnothing, it derives itsstrength from the doc-trine it symbolises, andof which it is the a sign which epito-mises by signification allthe occult forces of nature,and which has alwaysmanifested to elementaryand other spirits a powersuperior to their own, nat-urally strikes them withfear and respect, and en-forces their obedience bythe empire of knowledgeand will over ignorance and The pentagram wastraced by the old magicians on the threshold of the door, to pre-vent evil spirits from entering, and good ones from going ..The double triangle of Solomon, forming the six-pointed star, is thesign of the Macrocosmos, but it is less powerful than the Penta-gram, the microcosmic Figure of the Pentagram. (From Levis work Dogme et 7-ituel de la haute jnagie.) iir Levi gives us in his various books the ceremonies, vestments,perfumes, characters, figures, and instruments to be used in magicaloperations, which rites, he declares, have noOi\vci^^ fantastic or ar- ELIPHAS LEVI MAGICIAN AND MYSTIC. 153 bitrary about them ; they have been transmitted to us from an-tiquity, etc. The following is Levis account of his thaumaturgical experi-ence in London. It reads like some conjuration in an ancientEgyptian temple, and is related in perfect good faith. Did hedream it, or was it a vision under hypnotic conditions? He says: In the spring of the year 1854, I repaired to London to es-cape from internal disquietude, and to devote myself, without dis-traction, to study. I had letters of introduction to persons of dis-tinction, and to those seeking communications from the supernaturalworld. Of the latter I met with several, and, amidst much affabil-ity, I disc
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade188, booksubjectreligion, bookyear1887
